Variable exhaust-nozzle.



No. 736,246. PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903;

G. H. GRAY.

VARIABLE EXHAUST NOZZLE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 20. 1902.

H0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 736,246. 7 PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903.

' G. H. GRAY.

VARIABLE EXHAUST NOZZLE.

APPLIUATION FILED 32M. 20. 1902. no MODEL. 2 sums-sum 2..

Patented August I 1, 1903.

GEORGE H. GRAY, or DENVER, COLORADO.

VARIABLE EXHAUST-NOZZLE.

SPECIFICATIONfOrming part of Letters Patent N0. 736,246, dated August 11, 1903. Application filed September 20, 1902. Serial No. 124,203. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern:

figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvementsin variable exhaust-nozzles, my object being to provide a device of this class which shall be adapted to perform the desired function without gumming np, thus avoiding the necessity vice in which the parts which are engaged by the steam never come in contact with each other, the said parts being also free of abrupt obstructions in the path of the exhaust-steam.

The invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompany. ing drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken through the front end of a locomotive, showing my improved device in place. Fig. 2 is a plan View in'detail of my improved variable exhaust-nozzle shown on a larger scale in connection with operating devices. Fig. 3 is a top view of the device with the cap removed. Fig. 4 is a section of the device, taken on the line 4 4., Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a top view in detail of the variable cone member and the annular guide-ring connected therewith.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the body of the nozzle, which is flanged at the bottom to engage the top flange of a nozzle-stand 6,

of the inclined part 5*".

through which the exhaust-steampasses to the nozzle. (See Fig.1.) As shown in this view, the nozzle is mounted in the front end of the locomotive directly beneath the smokestack 7, which is mounted on the forward extension 8 of the boiler-shell. Exhaust-conduit-s 9, leading from the steam-cylinders, (not shown,) communicate with the lower extremity of the nozzle-stand. The body of the nozzle is provided near its upper extremity with an interior inclined portion 5 the inclination being inwardly as it extends upwardly, whereby the nozzle-opening is smallest or of less diameter at the upper extremity Above this inclined part is an offset 5, whereby the upper portion 5 of the nozzle is considerably removed from the reduced steam-escape opening at the top of the bevel or incline 5 The upper edge of the nozzle-wall is provided with a number of inclined faces or cams 5 which extend downwardlyin both directions from points 5",which form the apexes of the difierent pairs of cam- "faces.

seats for a cap-ring 10,whose lower edge is pro- .vided with corresponding faces. This cap-rin g is held in place by stud-bolts passed through openings formed in the ring and entering the openings 5 in the body of the nozzle. The lower edge of the ring 10 is provided with inclined or cam faces 10*, corresponding with the faces 5 of the body of the nozzle. This cap-ring is cut out to form, with the body of the nozzle, zigzag or cam slots 12, in which travel horizontal pins 13, which connect the vertically-movable hollow member 14. with the annular guide-ring 15. The member 14 is mounted in the passage-way of the nozzle, and when in its lowermost position the space 16 between the inner wall of the nozzle to the mum width and the nozzle isopen to its full capacity for the discharge of steam. The upper part of the member 14 is cone-shaped exteriorly, as shown at 14., being parallel or approximately parallel with the opposite wall 5 of the nozzle. The lower part of the member 14. is oppositely beveled or inclined as exterior wall of the said member is of maxicompared with its upper portion, making its lower edge quite thin or sharp, thus obviating abrupt obstructions to the passage of steam. The inner diameter of the opening through the member 14 diminishes gradually from its lower to its upper edge, the wall being slightly inwardly inclined. The pins 13 pass through the cam-slots 12 and, as shown in the drawings, are three in number, one pin for each pair of inclined faces 5 of the nozzle.

A ring surrounds the top of the nozzle on the outside and turns freely thereon. ,As

this ring is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, assuming that the cone member 14 is in its lowermost position, as best shown in Fig. 4, the pins 13 will travel up the inclined faces 5 until they reach the apexes 5 at the upper extremities of the faces. During this movement the cone member is raised to its upward limit of movement and the space 16 for the passage of the steam outside of the cone member reduced to-the minimum. This space, however, is not quite closed at the top, since it is not desired that the outer wall of the cone should come in contact with the inner wall of the.nozzle, as this would have a tendency to gum up parts and is therefore undesirable, as heretofore explained. When it is desired to lower the cone member, the movement of the ring may continue in the same direction or move in the reverse direction, and in either case the pins 13 will move downwardly in the slot 12, riding on the inclined faces 5 until they'reach their lowermost position. The object of the two inclined faces leading downwardly in opposite directions from each apex is to allow the cone member to be operated in harmony with the reversing lever of the engine. It will be observed that the cone member is balanced so far as the steam-pressure is concerned, since the upward pressure on the lower portion of the said member is offset or neutralized by the downward pressure on the upper part 14 of the member. To facilitate the operation of the cone member, a bifurcated lever 17 is connected with the guide-ring 15 at two diametrically opposite points, whereby during the movement of the ring there is no tendency of the latter to bind on the nozzle. As shown in the drawings, the outer extremity of the lever 17 terminates in an eye 17, with which a link 18 is connected. (See Fig. 2.) The opposite extremity of this link is connected with a bellcrank lever 19, the latter being also connected with the link or rod 20. It is evident that any suitable operating devices may be connected with the lever 17 for actuating the ring 15. It is also evident that as the cone member 14 is raised the passage of the exhaust-steam through the nozzle is obstructed, causing the steam to rush through with increased velocity, thereby augmenting its vacuum-producing function and increasing the draft of the furnace. (Not shown.)

Having thus described my invention,'what I claim is- 1. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with the body of the'nozzle, of a hollow member suspended to move vertically within the nozzle-opening and arranged to leave a steam-passage between the said member and the inner wall of the nozzle, the parts being constructed to vary the steam-space between the said member and the nozzle as the member is moved vertically therein, a ring mounted exteriorly on the nozzle which is provided with inclined or cam faces, and a connection between said ring and the hollow member, the said connection engaging the said inclined or cam faces of the nozzle whereby as the ring is turned horizontally, the hollow nozzle is moved vertically, substantially as described.

2. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with the body part having a portion of its wall cone-shaped, a hollow member having a portion of its outer wall cone-shaped to correspond with the cone-shaped portion of the inner wall of the nozzle-body, the hollow member being suspended in the nozzle-opening to leave a steam-space between its outer surface and the inner wall of the nozzle, and means for imparting vertical movement to the hollow member whereby the passage for the steam through the nozzle is varied, said means comprising inclined faces formed on the noz zle, a ring loosely mounted exteriorly on the nozzle, and a connection between the said ring and the hollow member, the said connection engaging the said inclined or cam faces,

whereby as the ring is turned horizontally, the hollow member is moved vertically, substantially as described.

3. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with the nozzle-body having a portion of its inner wall cone-shaped, a hollow member having a portion of its outer wall coneshaped to correspond with the cone-shaped part of the inner wall of the nozzle, and arranged to cooperate therewith to vary the steam-space outside of the hollow member, a guide-ring surrounding the nozzle-body exteriorly, a connection between said ring and the interior hollow member, the nozzle-body being provided with inclined faces which the said connecting means engages, whereby as the ring is turned on the nozzle-body, the hollow member is moved vertically for the purpose set forth.

4. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination of a nozzle-body having a portion of its inner wall cone-shaped, having an offset above the cone-shaped part, and a wall projecting upwardly from the outer circumference of the offset, and provided with inclined faces, a ring loosely mounted on the exterior wall of the nozzle, a hollow member arranged in the nozzle-opening to leave a steam-space between the said-member and the inner Wall of the nozzle, the said hollow member having a portion on the exterior wall cone-shaped to zle, and a connection between the hollow member and the said ring and engaging the inclined faces of the nozzle, whereby as the ring is turned the hollow member is moved vertically for the purpose set forth.

5. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with a nozzle-body having a portion of its inner wall cone-shaped, an offset at the top of the cone-shaped part, and an upwardlyprojecting part at the outer circumference of the offset, said upwardly-projecting part being provided with cam-slots, a hollow mem ber arranged in the nozzle-opening to leave a steam-space between said member and-the inner wall of the nozzle, the outer surface of said member having a coneeshaped portion, a ring mounted exteriorly on the nozzle, and pins connecting the ring and the hollow member, and passing through the cam-slots whereby as the ring is turned, the said hollow member is moved vertically on the nozzle to vary the steam-space, substantially as described.

6. In a Variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with a nozzle-body, of ahollow member arranged in the nozzle-opening to leave a space between the said member and the inner wall of the nozzle-body, the said hollow member having upper and lower oppositely-inclined faces to balance the steam-pressure, the inner wall of the nozzle-body being shaped to cooperate with one of the inclined faces of the hollow member, to vary the width of the steam-space outside of the hollow member as the latter is moved vertically, substantially as described.

7. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination of a nozzle-body having a portion of its innner wall cone-shaped, an offset at the top of the cone-shaped portion, and an upwardly-projecting part at the outer circumference of the offset,said upwardly-projecting part being provided with inclined or cam faces, a cap detachably applied to the upper part of the said nozzle-body and fashioned to form therewith a cam-slot, a member located in the nozzle-opening for varying the steam-space, a ring loosely mounted on the body of the nozzle, and pins passing through the cam-slots and connecting the ring with the said member, whereby as the ring is turned, the member is moved vertically for the purpose set forth.

8. In a variable exhaust-nozzle, the combination with a nozzle -body, of a member arranged in the nozzle-opening and adapted to move vertically therein to vary the steamspace, a ring loosely mounted on the nozzle and connected with said member to move the latter vertically as the ring is turned, and a bifurcated operating-lever connected with the ring at diametrically opposite points, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE H. GRAY.

Witnesses:

DENA NELSON, A. J. OBRIEN. 

